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Rubber press forming

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jetblackaircraft

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Messages
118
Location
Norman, OK
Not sure if everyone is already aware about how to do this to make ribs, but I figured I would post some pictures and a video of rubber press forming.

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Here is (left to right, obviously) the CNC milled forming block out of 6061-T6 rectangle bar stock, the formed leading edge rib for the horizontal stabilizer, and the flat rib before forming (punched on a CNC punch press)

2015-07-13-08.26.00-e1437258144337.jpg
Two formed ribs, one showing the rubber side, the other showing the forming block side.

2015-07-17-15.41.07-e1437257923891.jpg
Here are a couple of forming blocks, one for the leading edge rib, the other for the trailing edge rib, then a small mock up of the horizontal stabilizer assembly. I punched a short skin, just two ribs wide, and a short spar, then bent the spar on the press brake. I need to swap out to a larger radius die on the brake and then put a leading edge radius in the skin. Also, still need to bend the trailing edge spar and I'll have a short section of horizontal stabilizer to deburr, dimple, and rivet.

[video]https://youtu.be/-QNM0JUUYEY[/video]
This is a video of rubber forming a rib. I apologize for the terrible camera work.
 
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